San Francisco 49es quarterback Steve Young, right, and team owner Eddie DeBartolo, Jr, smile as they field questions concerning Youngs new contract, at the 49ers training camp in Rocklin, Calif., Wednesday, July 30, 1997. The new contract worth $45 million over six-years, will make Young the highest-paid player in the NFL. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

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Eddie DeBartolo holds the Vince Lombardi trophy during the team's Super Bowl victory parade in San Francisco on January 30, 1995. (Otto Greule/ALLSPORT)

Eddie DeBartolo rides on the shoulders of players after catching the winning touchdown during the Legends of Candlestick flag football game featuring former San Francisco 49ers stars and former NFL stars at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2014. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group archive)

Former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie Debartolo Jr. waves to the crowd following a half-time ceremony during their game against the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif. on Sunday, September 20, 2009. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group archive)

Former 49ers owner Eddie Debartolo, middle, shares a laugh with Joe Montana, left, during a workout at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, July 11, 2014. The pair will take part in The "Legends of Candlestick" flag football game on Saturday that features a roster of 49ers icons pitted against NFL All-Stars in what is being billed as the final game at Candlestick Park. (John Green/Bay Area News Group archive)

Eddie DeBartolo waits for halftime celebrations during a 49ers and Denver Broncos game. (Karen T. Borchers/Bay Area News Group archive)

Former San Francisco 49ers safety Ronnie Lott, right, has his jersey retired during half time during the 49ers game against the Pittsburg Steelers, Monday, Nov. 17, 2003 in San Francisco. Next to Lott is former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. and former coach Bill Walsh, far left. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie Debartolo speaks to the fans during the 49ers home opener against the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick Park on September 10, 1995 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

Former San Francisco 49ers Eddie DeBartolo Jr., right, hugs former 49es head coach Bill Walsh, left, during halftime of the 49ers game against the Pittsburg Steelers to retired former 49ers safety Ronnie Lott's jersey number, Monday, Nov. 17, 2003 in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday pardoned Eddie DeBartolo Jr., the former San Francisco 49ers owner convicted in a gambling fraud scandal who built one of the most successful NFL teams in the game’s history.

DeBartolo, who owned the 49ers during their 1980s-1990s dynasty, was involved in one of the biggest owners’ scandals in the sport’s history. In 1998, he pleaded guilty to failing to report a felony when he paid $400,000 to former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards in exchange for a riverboat gambling license.

The White House announced the surprise decision to reporters on Tuesday, with NFL greats Jerry Rice, Jim Brown, Ronnie Lott, Charles Haley in attendance.

“You know what, we all make mistakes and today the president cleared that mistake from him,” said Haley, an NFL Hall of Fame defensive end who played on two of DeBartolo’s Super Bowl winning teams.

“It’s a good day for Mr. D,” Lott wrote in a tweet Tuesday morning. “The man has done more than most anyone for kids in the Bay Area and in Tampa Bay. His numerous contributions to the game of football are well known. We are all happy for him. He is family.”

The 73-year-old DeBartolo, whose San Francisco 49ers won five Super Bowls under his leadership, lost control as the team’s owner in a 1997 deal with his sister Denise DeBartolo York, who sued him for not repaying $94 million to the DeBartolo family trust. In addition, two Louisiana newspapers reported Eddie DeBartolo would be indicted for gambling fraud.

As part of the deal with his sister, Denise and her husband, John York, assumed total control of the franchise. Their son, Jed York, was then tabbed to run the team. After some lean years, the Yorks appear to have the 49ers poised for some more strong seasons after reaching the Super Bowl earlier this month.

The move by Trump comes as he’s stepped up efforts to use sports as a vehicle to reach out to American voters ahead of the November elections. The president and his campaign advisers have high hopes of expanding his base by pulling new voters to the polls who typically avoid politics.

On Sunday, Trump headed to the Daytona 500, becoming just the second sitting president to attend the NASCAR event. In recent months, the president has also made high-profile visits to the World Series and the college football championship game. Trump was greeted with cheers by football and NASCAR fans, and a chorus of boos at Game 5 of the World Series hosted by the Washington Nationals.

DeBartolo’s relationship with Trump extends back at least to before the president’s inauguration, when the former 49ers owner held a pre-inauguration party honoring Michael Cohen, Omarosa Manigault and others close to Trump. DeBartolo has supported candidates from across the political spectrum over the years, according to publicly available campaign donation data from the U.S. Federal Election Commission.

Scott, who also encouraged Trump to intervene on behalf of rapper A$AP Rocky when he was detained in Stockholm in last summer, said a long list of “NFL greats” had submitted character references on DeBartolo’s behalf.

“He thought about it, he considered it,” Scott said of Trump. “I think it’s long overdue.”

DeBartolo avoided prison, was fined $1 million and was suspended for a year by the NFL. But the episode effectively ended his NFL career.

Rice, an NFL Hall of Famer who played on three of DeBartolo’s Super Bowl-winning teams, said DeBartolo “was like that 12th man” of the great 49ers teams.

“He’s the main reason why we won so many Super Bowls,” Rice said. “So today is a great day for him. I’m glad to be here and be a part of that. It’s just something I will never forget. This man, he has done so much in the community, has done so much in NFL football.”